Teams Struggle to Defend Sharks' Celebrini

Sophomore star ranks 4th in NHL scoring at Olympic break

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Macklin Celebrini has emerged as one of the NHL's elite scorers in his second season, ranking 4th in the league with 81 points at the Olympic break. Teams are finding it just as difficult to defend Celebrini as they do other top talents like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, as the young Sharks forward continues to produce at a high level despite being the clear focal point of opposing defenses.

Why it matters

Celebrini's breakout season has been a bright spot for the struggling Sharks, who are rebuilding around the 21-year-old center. His ability to generate offense despite constant defensive attention is a testament to his elite skill level and has kept San Jose competitive in a tough Pacific Division.

The details

Celebrini's 81 points trail only McDavid, MacKinnon, and Nikita Kucherov at the Olympic break. Teams have tried various defensive strategies to slow down the young star, including double-teaming, aggressive forechecking, and shadowing him with their top shutdown defensemen. However, Celebrini's combination of speed, vision, and puck skills have allowed him to consistently create scoring chances and find ways to produce offense.

  • At the Olympic break, Celebrini is 4th in the NHL with 81 points.

The players

Macklin Celebrini

A 21-year-old center for the San Jose Sharks who has emerged as one of the NHL's elite scorers in his sophomore season.

Connor McDavid

The Edmonton Oilers' superstar center who leads the NHL in scoring.

Nathan MacKinnon

The Colorado Avalanche's star center who ranks 2nd in NHL scoring.

Nikita Kucherov

The Tampa Bay Lightning's dynamic winger who is 3rd in the league in points.

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The takeaway

Celebrini's breakout season has been a rare bright spot for the struggling Sharks, as the young center has established himself as one of the NHL's premier offensive talents despite constant defensive attention. His ability to produce at an elite level has kept San Jose competitive and has the organization excited about his long-term potential as the centerpiece of their rebuild.